Page 25 of Nine Inch Nasty
“That seems fair,” Cory announces as they flounce to our side, dropping with their legs tucked under them next to me and Zac. “I think we should all just, you know, get a few days off.” They look up at Zac hopefully, but our headmaster isn’t having it.
He is amused, though. He reaches out to ruffle Cory’s hair. “And deprive all of you of a quality education? Hurt the school’s feelings? I think not. I’ll make sure your professors all know to give you guys a bit of leeway for a few days while you find your feet, but greatness waits for no one.”
Of all the people to snort at the cheesiness of that line, it’s one of Zac’s own employees. Ash, with his hands in his pockets and his eyes wild, rolls his eyes. “Been working on that one a bit, have you?”
“Well let’s get inside our place while these two fuck off and try to be productive. I want to see you fed with real food, Delaney, give you a nice long shower so I can tongue fuck you, and then dry you off so my brother can ride you. Maybe we’ll get some of these new ones in on the aftercare.”
“August, always the charmer,” I say with far too much excitement as he reaches a hand down to help me up and then promptly throws me over his shoulder.
I reach a hand out to Wil, yanking him into me and August with an ‘oomf’ as we make our way inside, kissing Zac and Ash goodbye for a few hours so they can sort out their professional shit.
And I can sort out my definitely-not-professional shit.
Chapter Eleven
Jackson
We’re all quiet as we make our way back up the stale stairway up to our floor, the laughter and voices from behind the other closed dorms feeling out of place.
All of my focus is on my mate, as is all of ours. We’re walking with her at the center of all of us, consciously doing it or not, and I can’t believe that Spencer and Wil thought for even asecondthey were going to wander off to their former dorms and not follow us.
I like the fact that they didn’t assume I guess, but Delaney is going to need all of us next to her while we settle in and adjust to being in our boringly normal world again.
Time in that realm must have been all wonky and shit because it feels like we’ve been gone weeks.
The door across from Delaney’s opens as we get close, Spencer’s sister stepping out with wide eyes as she catches us. She onlyhesitates for a second before she’s throwing herself at her brother, then yanking Delaney in for a side hug as well. “Where the hell have you guys been? I was worried sick! They said everything was fine, but…”
Violet trails off as she notices the way her brother is staring at Delaney. “Wait. Shut up. Shut. Up! Am I imagining things, or are you two totally together?”
I guess pulling Spencer in for a nasty kiss is far more effective than trying to explain, so Delaney takes that option.
It takes far too little effort for things to heat up, with Spencer spinning to pin Delaney to the wall, twining his hands with hers as he pushes it into the wall above her. With his forearm bared like that, it’s obvious to everyone that he’s now wearing a bond mark, and Violet starts legitimately screaming.
She also tackles Delaney, pushing her brother out of the way in the process, screeching, “Oh my gods, oh my gods, oh my gods!” over and over, ad nauseum.
Delaney is laughing now, and then Violet trips and they both go sprawling on the floor while Violet’s mates take a moment to congratulate Spencer. Violet starts going on about an official ceremony for their family, and how much their parents are going to freak out, and it’s such a good dose of happiness that we really needed.
“Okay, okay, I’m sorry. You guys…we need to catch up. Youarealright though, right? Because like, you look a bit…travel worn.” She punches Spencer in the arm. “Where the hell were you?”
Spencer rubs his arm and then pulls Delaney into his side so he can throw an arm over her shoulder and kiss her head, which has Violet positively swooning. “Official kingdom business works as good as any excuse…” he trails off, looking at this ragtag group of people now tied together for life, minus the two most adulty of usall. “Can’t really get into it out here, but…” he turns to Delaney, silently pleading.
“We all need…a bit of rest. Amongst other, er, things. But soon. You guys should come over for dinner, or something? Yeah. We can do that in a few days, right loves?” Delaney questions, picking up Spencer’s need to pull his family into our troubles.
Like any of us are going to deny her anything, and I have no problem admitting as much. “Whatever you want, babe. We can figure something out for food. We’ll let you know when we’re up to it, but sometime this weekend should be good.”
“Okay. Yeah, okay then. You better tell mom, you twerp. She’s been bugging me since I told her you were hanging out with Shelly again—"
“You didwhat?” Spencer screeches in irritation.
“Well, you know I can’t keep anything back from that woman. She was asking what you were up to because she hasn’t heard from you and that was the last I had heard about you and…well…I’m sorry, okay? We were just really worried about you!”
She throws herself at Spencer again and hugs him, squishing him and Delaney’s faces together. “Fuck, you two are cute together. This is going to be weird living across the hall from each other, but…so fun!”
“Violet?” one of her mates asks.
“Oh, right. We were on our way out. Okay, well, go…take care of each other. Gross. But like, Delaney, you go girl! Okay, talk later, byeee!” and she flounces down the hall, pulling her mates with her.
Spencer lets out a deep exhale, running his fingers through his hair. “Mom’s probably going to flip out even louder. Just be prepared, she’s going to beobsessedwith you, Delaney.”
